Conchata Ferrell


Conchata Galen Ferrell was an American actress. She played Berta the housekeeper on the sitcom Two and a Half Men from 2003 to 2015, and she received two nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the role. Ferrell had previously been nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in L.A. Law.

Early life

Conchata Galen Ferrell was born March 28, 1943, in Loudendale, West Virginia, the first of two children, to Mescal Loraine and Luther Martin Ferrell. She was raised in Charleston, West Virginia. Her family later moved to Circleville, Ohio.
She attended West Virginia University for two years, dropped out, and after working several jobs, enrolled and graduated from Marshall University with a degree in history education. She made her first onstage performance at Marshall in 1969, in the second Barfenon Review, a skit comedy and musical production.

Career

Ferrell began her career on the stage as a member of the Circle Repertory Company. She appeared in the original off-Broadway cast of Lanford Wilson's The Hot l Baltimore and won the Drama Desk, Obie, and Theatre World Best Actress awards for her performance in the off-Broadway play The Sea Horse.
Acting on stage, television, and film for decades, she starred as the frontier wife in the 1979 feature film Heartland directed by Richard Pearce, and as the tough-talking owner of Mystic Pizza, co-starring alongside Lili Taylor, Annabeth Gish, and Julia Roberts, who portrayed pizza waitresses. She also played a tough, comical nurse on the short-lived 1980s TV sitcom E/R.
In 1992, she received her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her recurring role as Attorney Susan Bloom on the sixth season of L.A. Law, but lost to Valerie Mahaffey for Northern Exposure. She had previously appeared in an episode of the show in 1988 as Lorna Landsberg, an entirely different character.
Ferrell's supporting roles in films include performances in Deadly Hero, Network, Edward Scissorhands, Erin Brockovich, Crime and Punishment in Suburbia, Mr. Deeds, and K-PAX, as well as a small part in True Romance. Her other television credits include Maude, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hot l Baltimore, Teen Angel, Matlock, B. J. and the Bear, Good Times, Hearts Afire, Townies, Night Court, The Love Boat, and Push, Nevada. She played Mrs. Werner in the episode of Quincy, M.E. titled "Into the Murdering Mind". She also made memorable appearances portraying blunt, authoritative judges.
She accepted a role in the off-Broadway play Love, Loss, and What I Wore for an April 27 through May 29, 2011, run with Minka Kelly, AnnaLynne McCord, Anne Meara, and B. Smith.
Ferrell portrayed Berta the housekeeper in the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men, appearing in a total of 212 episodes from 2003 to 2015. She had received two nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2005 and 2007, but lost to Doris Roberts for Everybody Loves Raymond and Jaime Pressly for My Name Is Earl.
In 2012, she voiced the role of Bob's Mom in Frankenweenie, which was directed by Tim Burton. She was slated to appear in the upcoming feature film Deported, and had earlier acted in A Very Nutty Christmas, a holiday-themed television film.

Personal life

Ferrell married Arnie Anderson around 1986. She had a daughter, Samantha, and two stepdaughters.
Ferrell was a self-described Democrat and a practicing Methodist. She was a member of both the Circleville Church of Christ in Circleville, Ohio and the Sherman Oaks United Methodist Church in Sherman Oaks, California.

Death

Ferrell died on October 12, 2020, from complications following cardiac arrest at the Sherman Oaks Hospital in Sherman Oaks, California. She was 77 years old.

Filmography

Source
YearTitleRoleDirectorNotesSource
1974MaudeRita ValdezHal CooperEpisode: "Florida's Goodbye"
1975Hot l BaltimoreApril GreenBob LaHendro & Burt Brinckerhoff13 episodes
1976Deadly HeroSlugger AnnIvan Nagy
1976NetworkBarbara SchlesingerSidney Lumet
1977The Rockford FilesElla Mae WhiteReza BadiyiEpisode: "Crack Back"
1977Mixed NutsNurse CassidyJerry Belson & Peter H. HuntShort
1977Blansky's BeautiesNurse GibbonsAlan RafkinEpisode: "Nancy Breaks a Leg"
1977The Girl Called Hatter FoxNurse RinehartGeorge SchaeferTV movie
1977Good TimesMiss JohnsonGerren KeithEpisode: "Willona, the Fuzz"
1977One Day at a TimePhyllis McDermottHerbert KenwithEpisode: "The Singles Bar"
1978A Death in CanaanRita ParsonsTony RichardsonTV movie
1978Who'll Save Our Children?Dodie HartGeorge Schaefer TV movie
1979The Love BoatBitsy SheldonRoger Duchowny2 episodes
1979HeartlandElinore Randall StewartRichard Pearce
1979Before and AfterMargeKim FriedmanTV movie
1979The Misadventures of Sheriff LoboThe FoxBruce Bilson2 episodes
1979–1980B. J. and the BearWilhemina 'The Fox' JohnsonSeveral directors5 episodes
1980The Seduction of Miss LeonaHazel DawsonJoseph HardyTV movie
1980ReunionToni OwensRuss MayberryTV movie
1980Rape and Marriage: The Rideout CaseHelenPeter LevinTV movie
1980Knots LandingMrs. MessingerEdward Parone2 episodes
1981CBS Afternoon PlayhouseMamie TrotterJeffrey HaydenEpisode: "The Great Gilly Hopkins"
1981McClain's LawVangie CruiseVincent McEveetyTV movie
1981Lou GrantMyra WexlerPeter Levin Episode: "Drifters"
1982Quincy, M.E.Mrs. WernerGeorg FenadyEpisode: "Into the Murdering Mind"
1982Life of the Party: The Story of BeatriceCaptain BurnsiteLamont JohnsonTV movie
1982Cagney & LaceyCharleneReza Badiyi Episode: "High Steel"
1983St. ElsewhereGina BarnettMark TinkerEpisode: "Hearts"
1983American PlayhouseFaye DoyleMichael DinnerEpisode: "Miss Lonelyhearts"
1983Emergency RoomNurse Sylvia KayeLee H. KatzinTV movie
1984NadiaMili SimonescuAlan CookeTV movie
1984Faerie Tale TheatreThumbelina's MotherMichael Lindsay-HoggEpisode: "Thumbelina"
1984The Three Wishes of Billy GrierDr. GardnerCorey BlechmanTV movie
1984–1985E/RNurse Joan ThorPeter Bonerz22 episodes
1985This Is the LifeSharron MillerEpisode: "The Stranger"
1985North Beach and RawhideDoc NormanHarry FalkTV movie
1986Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder StoryIda SinclairRichard T. HeffronTV movie
1986Where the River Runs BlackMother MartaChristopher Cain
1986PicnicHelen PottsMarshall W. MasonTC movie
1986MatlockMrs. ReeseAlan Cooke Episode: "The Sisters"
1987Night CourtNurseJim DrakeEpisode: "Here's to You, Mrs. Robinson"
1987Sledge Hammer!Judge Ida GruffReza Badiyi Episode: "Jagged Sledge"
1987Frank's PlaceJan RudyHugh WilsonEpisode: "The Bridge"
1987Eye on the SparrowMaryJohn KortyTV movie
1988HoopermanEva ParkerRick WallaceEpisode: "The Snitch"
1988For KeepsMrs. BobruczJohn G. Avildsen
1988Who's the Boss?FrancesJames Eric HornbeckEpisode: "Housekeepers Unite"
1988Sonny SpoonTough HabitDick MillerEpisode: "Tough Habit"
1988CBS Summer PlayhouseKateDavid TrainerEpisode: "Old Money"
1988Mystic PizzaLeonaDonald Petrie
1988ABC Weekend SpecialAunt JillRon UnderwoodEpisode: "Runaway Ralph"
1988Goodbye, Miss 4th of JulyMinnie BixbyGeorge MillerTV movie
1988Portrait of a White MarriageMrs. SturgeonHarry Shearer
1988 & 1991–1992L.A. LawSusan Bloom / Lorna LandsbergSeveral directors20 episodes
1989A Peaceable KingdomKate GalindoMark Waxman10 episodes
1989Murder, She WroteHarriet LundgrenJohn Llewellyn MoxeyEpisode: "Something Borrowed, Someone Blue"
1989Your Mother Wears Combat BootsSpecialist MononagheeAnson WilliamsTV movie
1989Hard Time on Planet EarthAnnieJames A. ContnerEpisode: "The Hot Dog Man"
1990Hollywood DogWilliam DearTV movie
1990Opposites AttractFloNoel NosseckTV movie
1990Edward ScissorhandsHelenTim Burton
1991Deadly Intentions... Again?JoanJames Steven SadwithTV movie
1991Chains of GoldMartha BurkeRod HolcombTV movie
1991Backfield in MotionAnn BedowskiRichard MichaelsTV movie
1992–1995Hearts AfireDr. Madeline Stoessinger / Dr. Ruth ColquistSeveral directors33 episodes
1993The Legend of Prince ValiantGirlVoice, episode: "The Sage"
1993DinosaursShellyBruce Bilson Voice, episode: "Dirty Dancin'"
1993Family PrayersMrs. RomeyoScott M. Rosenfelt
1993SirensMrs. ChattleTBAEpisode: "Keeping the Peace"
1993True RomanceMary Louise RavencroftTony Scott
1993CobraBobby GutnerJorge MontesiEpisode: "Honeymoon Hideaway"
1993Heaven & EarthBerniceOliver Stone
1994Samurai CowboyBobbi Bob PicketteMichael Keusch
1994A Worn PathNurseBruce Schwartz
1994DuckmanRoxanneJeff McGrath & John EngVoice, 2 episodes
1995The BuccaneersMrs. ElmsworthPhilip SavilleMiniseries; episode: "Invasion"
1995The Mask: Animated SeriesWillamina BubaskVoice, episode: "How Much Is That Dog in the Tin Can?"
1995The ClientRueJames QuinnEpisode: "The Way Things Never Were"
1996FreewayMrs. SheetsMatthew Bright
1996Minor AdjustmentsMrs. Daisy GotschelEpisode: "The Ungrateful Dead"
1996Walker, Texas RangerLureen SmithMichael PreeceEpisode: "Miracle at Middle Creek"
1996Sweet DreamsDr. Kate LoweJack BenderTV movie
1996TowniesMargePamela Fryman2 episodes
1996My Fellow AmericansWoman Truck DriverPeter Segal
1997TouchVirginia WorrelPaul Schrader
1997ABC TGIFPamEpisode: "Frightful Halloween Bash"
1997Aaahh!!! Real MonstersSimpahDenise DownerVoice, episode: "Clockwise/Gromble Soup"
1997–1998Teen AngelPamSeveral directors17 episodes
1998Modern VampiresWandaRichard ElfmanTV movie
1998The Naked TruthMaxine MansfieldRobby BensonEpisode: "Muddy for Nothing"
1998Buffy the Vampire SlayerNurse GreenlieghDavid SemelEpisode: "Go Fish"
1999Touched by an AngelIreneNoel NosseckEpisode: "The Medium and the Message"
1999Two Guys and a GirlShawn's MotherGil JungerEpisode: "Two Guys, a Girl and Valentine's Day"
1999JAGDeanneTerrence O'HaraEpisode: "Second Sight"
1999FriendsThe JudgeGary HalvorsonEpisode: "The One with Joey's Porsche"
1999Chicken Soup for the SoulMrs. PattersonEpisode: "Crying's Okay"
2000Crime and Punishment in SuburbiaBellaRob Schmidt
2000Erin BrockovichBrendaSteven Soderbergh
2000Get RealRosa HernandezRichard ComptonEpisode: "Support"
2000PensacolaHelen WilsonSidney J. FurieEpisode: "Answered Prayers"
2000Buzz Lightyear of Star CommandMa MunchapperSteve LoterVoice, 3 episodes
2000 & 2003The Wild ThornberrysHarriet, Grizzly BearCarol Millican & Dean CrisswellVoice, 2 episodes
2001Stranger InsideMama CassCheryl DunyeTV movie
2001PopularCalamity JonesRyan MurphyEpisode: "The News of My Death Has Been Greatly Exaggerated"
2001The Zeta ProjectDr. GreerRob DaviesVoice, episode: "The Next Gen"
2001Amy & IsabelleBevLloyd KramerTV movie
2001Going to CaliforniaNurse LucyD.j. CarusoEpisode: "I Know Why the Caged Rhino Sings"
2001ERMrs. JenkinsChristopher MisianoEpisode: "Four Corners"
2001K-PAXBetty McAllisterIain Softley
2002Sabrina the Teenage WitchBus DriverBeth BroderickEpisode: "Guilty!"
2002Mr. DeedsJanSteven Brill
2002Lloyd in SpaceMiss EffluviumHowy ParkinsVoice, episode: "Incident at Luna Vista"
2002Push, NevadaMarthaLisa CholodenkoEpisode: "The Letter of the Law"
2003BeckerZoraChris BroughamEpisode: "Ms. Fortune"
2003Judging AmyMaxine's Co-WorkerAlan MyersonEpisode: "Kilt Trip"
2003–2015Two and a Half MenBertaSeveral directorsRecurring role ; Main role
2004Surviving EdenRosemary FlotchkyGreg Pritikin
2007KablueyKathleenScott Prendergast
2012FrankenweenieBob's MomTim BurtonVoice
2013Not That, But Something Like ThatBenjamin HaskoShort
2014Postal JerksCarmelitaJames SkinnerTV movie
2014The Axe Murders of VilliscaMrs. FlanksTony E. Valenzuela
2014Wishin' and Hopin'Sister AgrippinaColin TheysTV movie
2015KrampusAunt DorothyMichael Dougherty
2016Grace and FrankieGrandma JeanTrent O'DonnellEpisode: "The Negotiation"
2016The Axe Murders of VilliscaMrs. FlanksTony E. Valenzuela
2017The RanchShirleyDon Reo & Jim Patterson5 episodes
2018A Very Nutty ChristmasClaraColin TheysTV movie
2020DeportedBetsyTyler SpindelPosthumous release